Many have likely heard of the mythical Sannikov Land, but few know about the village of Kynkovei in Alaska, which, according to some researchers, could have been the first Russian settlement in America. The story begins with Semyon Dezhnev's expedition in 1648, when part of his crew was carried far west during a storm. Their search was unsuccessful, but the sailors did not perish; they landed on the shores of Alaska and established a small village there.

It is believed that the local Indians provided significant assistance to the Russian settlers. There is an opinion that they mixed with the indigenous population, and the descendants of Dezhnev's sailors continued to live in the village. In 1742, Yakov Lindenau, a participant in northern expeditions, noted that Chukchi in kayaks visited this land and brought back wooden dishes resembling Russian ones. Almost 20 years later, geographer Nikolai Daurkin heard from the Indians about a remote village where white people lived, who prayed to boards with images of people, likely referring to icons.

Cossack centurion Ivan Kobeleev was able to determine that the Russians settled in the area of the Heuveren River, which the locals called Kynkovei, meaning 'whale place.' He found out that the Russians had settled, engaged in crafts, hunting, and trading with the Indians. They even corresponded, complaining about the lack of iron and asking for help.

Over time, the residents of Kynkovei fully assimilated with the local population. Unfortunately, the village has not survived to this day, and its history has become surrounded by legends. American researcher Julia Ray even questioned the existence of the Russian village in Alaska, calling the search for the village 'ridiculous.'